Yes we did. And it was an amazing result. Not so much that we agreed but the fact that just on 80% of the voting population caste a vote, given that a plebiscite is not compulsory.

And then to have a yes vote of 61.6%, is a landslide. Any politician in this country that wins a seat with that margin, is a hero for their party.

At times it was a very bitter campaign, and the no voters were not exactly keen on having a level playing field, so to speak. The bill has gone before parliament today and should be law before Christmas.

Gord, let's not confuse the extreme element with normal everyday people. And yes I say "Normal Everyday People", because unless you knew their preferences you would never know.

We have extremes in everything, extreme left wing, extreme right wing, extreme extremes, blah, blah,blah. They are not representative of the normal population. We might get a giggle out of some of them, as in the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, but that's probably all they're worth.

I'm just glad it's more or less all over. Now our bloody politicians can get on with running our country - into the ground no doubt.

I will probably get slammed here but the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras has done a good thing. After 35 years it's mostly straight people who dress up for Mardi gras. The gay and lesbian boys and girls are almost fully integrated and most don't bother with the parade anymore.

Being gay is just like being left handed. It's now just a part of life, which i would consider a victory for the people who first started the protest parade.

I will probably get slammed here but the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras has done a good thing. After 35 years it's mostly straight people who dress up for Mardi gras. The gay and lesbian boys and girls are almost fully integrated and most don't bother with the parade anymore.

Being gay is just like being left handed. It's now just a part of life, which i would consider a victory for the people who first started the protest parade.

I agree.

Most gays are almost as boring as everyone else.

It's people like those green and blue-haired ladies, be they straight or gay, that put a little zip into life.

If one can be taught to believe absurdities, one can commit atrocities. --Voltaire

I will probably get slammed here but the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras has done a good thing. After 35 years it's mostly straight people who dress up for Mardi gras. The gay and lesbian boys and girls are almost fully integrated and most don't bother with the parade anymore.

Being gay is just like being left handed. It's now just a part of life, which i would consider a victory for the people who first started the protest parade.

I agree.

Most gays are almost as boring as everyone else.

It's people like those green and blue-haired ladies, be they straight or gay, that put a little zip into life.

If one can be taught to believe absurdities, one can commit atrocities. --Voltaire

Well Gord, I don't know if I can accept your statement outright. I suppose I could have some extreme views, or exhibit some extreme actions, but by and large, normal everyday people are not like this, IMHO.

I have friends in Canada who are Lesbian, and they are lovely people, but I'm not sure just how we compare the events just happening here in Australia with events that have happened some time ago over there. From what I understand, the legalizing of Gay Marriage in Canada is still being fought in some areas.

We may still face that here, but at the moment, the final bill still has to pass our parliament.

But my comment about extreme elements refers specifically to a lot of the people who get involved in our Gay Mardi Gras. Yes I accept that often people have to go to extreme lengths to get their point across. And that has happened within the gay community here.

Whilst I am a supporter of gay marriage, I do cringe at some of the fringe element who present themselves as supporters of the Gay and Lesbian movement. I just feel that they present some stereotyped vision of Gay and Lesbian people. Example, the limp wrist often portrayed by a supposed gay male. To me that is not how you try to sell your beliefs. You have to portray you beliefs as normal people, else you risk turning "normal" people away from your cause.

However, this hasn't occurred in this case. No matter what, the Australian people have shown a substantial majority support for these peoples. And woebetide any politician who does not act in accord with the wishes shown. I'm not only a skeptic, but I'm also a cynical bastard at the best of times. Given this vote was not obligatory, there is no way I would have bet on an 80% participation rate. I have seen polls that are compulsory for the election of a parliamentarian that has returned a lower percentage.

What behavior do you expect at any Mardi Gras? Drunk on your ass or lack of sleep at 2AM?====bet you don't even go to the event at the beginning: 106 Degrees at Noon.

Real Name: bobbo the existential pragmatic evangelical anti-theist and Class Warrior.Asking: What is the most good for the most people?Sample Issue: Should the Feds provide all babies with free diapers?

OK Buddy. This means WAR!!!! I'm immediately flying to the USA with a big black felt marker pen. I will then write rude words on your children's foreheads using my left hand.

..............bet you get stopped at Hawaii again.

Real Name: bobbo the existential pragmatic evangelical anti-theist and Class Warrior.Asking: What is the most good for the most people?Sample Issue: Should the Feds provide all babies with free diapers?

Phoenix76 wrote:I have friends in Canada who are Lesbian, and they are lovely people, but I'm not sure just how we compare the events just happening here in Australia with events that have happened some time ago over there. From what I understand, the legalizing of Gay Marriage in Canada is still being fought in some areas.

Heck, even our Conservatives have changed their official stance in recent years:

Wikipedia wrote:In May 2016, Conservative Party delegates voted in favour of removing the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman from the party's official policy document, effectively changing the party's official position on same-sex marriage from opposed to neutral.

Not that there aren't still jackasses amongst 'em, of course. We have a provincial party in Alberta call the Wildrose Party, and they've got some enormous jackasses:

Hey Poodle, that's a bit rough mate. We will certainly eat wallabies, and maybe, just maybe, we might have some "Deliverance" type blokes here who like to copy their New Zealand mates, and what they allegedly do to sheep, but, as a rule --- no, we don't marry wallabies. And believe me mate, you do not want to tangle with their claws, front feet or hind feet, they will tear you to shreds. At least sheep are quite passive.

Phoenix76 wrote:Hey Poodle, that's a bit rough mate. We will certainly eat wallabies, and maybe, just maybe, we might have some "Deliverance" type blokes here who like to copy their New Zealand mates, and what they allegedly do to sheep, but, as a rule --- no, we don't marry wallabies. And believe me mate, you do not want to tangle with their claws, front feet or hind feet, they will tear you to shreds. At least sheep are quite passive.

I used to live a mile away from a whole load of wallabies living wild in Derbyshire (it's TRUE, I tell you!). Admittedly, I never tried to pet one of those, but I have rubbed the tum of a wallaby in captivity. Pussycats. Now sheep - they're a different kettle of fish. They pull you in with their long eyelashes and lascivious looks and ... oh - where was I? Where am I?